The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1886. FREE TRADE v. PROTECTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1618, 26 January 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1886. FREE TRADE v. PROTECTION.

In the course of his recent speech to, his constituents at Leeston, Mr Wakkfielu, M.H.R., referring, to free, trade and protection, said he had. visited many of the protected factories m Melbourne, and was assured that they could not ; bef carried; on except ; at , starvation . wages. It, was pitiable ibo see tHe miserable children brought-up'in these factories, whbh were laying the 5 of a pauper population. He . , hppe,d ,that .day; would be distant when they 'would tee' their healthful and moral population drawn from the.; country districts, and forced to take part m such unhealthy factories as 'they saw- m other parts, of. the. world. He believed it would be a good'thing if they had a free tariff with Australia, and that it would lead to an' enormous extension of trade m. st little time. He was sure that the Hbusiei reflected the opinion of the country m treating the tariff m the manner . m which they did. Ministers had told the country during the recess that they intended next' season to bring m a tariff, of a , much more thorough-going kind than that ollast session.' They were to have a thoroughpaced protective tariff next session. He would oppose such, a, tar iff to the utmost of jiis power. This question of free trade was the greatest one m politics at the present time, and he . would do all he couid to prevent the 1 ' curse^ of protection being fqistedAupon this free country. ,